The other day in the herald there was a paywall article on 20 possible names. Anyone think they could guess and post the 20?
Auckland is getting a new professional football franchise with the launch of the men’s and women’s A-League sides confirmed. Before it can organise coaches, marquee players or the third alternate strip colours, the franchise would be wise to settle on an official name.
The Herald’s Cameron McMillan saves them the large fee from a brand/marketing company and comes up with some options.
These suggestions follow the preference that both the men’s and women’s sides will go under the same name banner.
About as simple as you can get. Shouts “Auckland”, “football” and the fact it’s a “club”. So it hits all the brand targets and requirements. The downside is AFC gives me Socceroos v Vietnam or Cleveland Browns v Jacksonville Jaguars vibes.
Tāmaki Makaurau FC
A great opportunity to promote the te reo version of the city’s name.
AFC Auckland
According to a football historian, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic became AFC Bournemouth so they would be first in any alphabetical list of English clubs. Still doesn’t get the Auckland franchise above Adelaide Utd, so not really worth it. Unless they go with AAFC Auckland.
Auckland City Rovers
The Rovers title was originally used by clubs with no fixed ground. The Auckland A-League franchise (name doesn’t really roll off the tongue) will set up base at Mt Smart for now but owner Bill Foley has talked about backing a new stadium in the CBD.
Option 2 - A nickname, because it’s fun
Black Knights FC
This appears to be the front-runner as Black Knight Football Club is the name of the entity led by Foley that was awarded the franchise by the A-League. Black Knight Sports and Entertainment owns the NHL side the Las Vegas Golden Knights, along with AFC Bournemouth.
There is a Boston-based futsal team under this name, established in 2005 with an Instagram account. But that shouldn’t be an issue.
Auckland Volcanoes
The city does have an abundance of volcanoes (53 by last count), more common than black knights at least. Was originally considered by the Warriors organisation, along with Lions and Bombers.
Auckland Basilisk
Leaning heavily into a local rivalry - according to Harry Potter lore, phoenix tears are the only known antidote to basilisk venom. Basilisk and Phoenix: two natural enemies.
Auckland Jafas
Just another football association. Along with a Dutch orange strip, this would be a real winner.
Auckland Roadcones
Still keeps the orange as an option.
Auckland Orcas
Facebook groups in the city go nuts when someone announces an orca spotting. Based on that, Aucklanders love orcas.
Auckland Tūī
The same goes for tūī in terms of high approval rating. They are fast and look great, opening up the option for a white tuft under the neck on the jersey.
Option 3 - Alliteration
Auckland Advance
Trying to get inspiration from the official coat of arms of Auckland City wasn’t easy. Ignoring the fact it features pineapples and bananas, which aren’t easy to grow in Auckland, the only word that features across the bottom is “Advance”. Would be bold to use a keyword from the Australian national anthem but I like it.
Auckland Athletic
Auckland A’s for short. Moneyball during a cost-of-living crisis would be a nice touch.
Auckland Aviators
Maybe my house is under a flight path but seems the city has an abundance of planes.
Auckland Axels
I only suggest it so I can make an Axel Foley gag, which no doubt goes over the head of any reader under the age of 35.
Auckland Avengers
Trademark and Marvel approval pending.
Auckland Admirals
City of sails... admirals. There’s a connection there. Also a shade of blue...
Option 4 - Blue is the colour
Auckland Blue Boots
Suggested by a talkback listener on Newstalk ZB. Like the Black Caps and Red Sox, it makes a fashion statement. The downside is the players won’t be able to wear the classic Adidas Copa Mundials.
Auckland City Royals
Not about the monarchy but about a royal blue colour scheme.
Auckland Azure
Ticks both alliteration and a shade of blue. Would need to lean on more Italian signings.
Outside of the Auckland Football Club/Tamaki Makarau FC/AFC Auckland options they're all pretty meh or just bad.
The other day in the herald there was a paywall article on 20 possible names. Anyone think they could guess and post the 20?
Auckland is getting a new professional football franchise with the launch of the men’s and women’s A-League sides confirmed. Before it can organise coaches, marquee players or the third alternate strip colours, the franchise would be wise to settle on an official name.
The Herald’s Cameron McMillan saves them the large fee from a brand/marketing company and comes up with some options.
These suggestions follow the preference that both the men’s and women’s sides will go under the same name banner.
About as simple as you can get. Shouts “Auckland”, “football” and the fact it’s a “club”. So it hits all the brand targets and requirements. The downside is AFC gives me Socceroos v Vietnam or Cleveland Browns v Jacksonville Jaguars vibes.
Tāmaki Makaurau FC
A great opportunity to promote the te reo version of the city’s name.
AFC Auckland
According to a football historian, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic became AFC Bournemouth so they would be first in any alphabetical list of English clubs. Still doesn’t get the Auckland franchise above Adelaide Utd, so not really worth it. Unless they go with AAFC Auckland.
Auckland City Rovers
The Rovers title was originally used by clubs with no fixed ground. The Auckland A-League franchise (name doesn’t really roll off the tongue) will set up base at Mt Smart for now but owner Bill Foley has talked about backing a new stadium in the CBD.
Option 2 - A nickname, because it’s fun
Black Knights FC
This appears to be the front-runner as Black Knight Football Club is the name of the entity led by Foley that was awarded the franchise by the A-League. Black Knight Sports and Entertainment owns the NHL side the Las Vegas Golden Knights, along with AFC Bournemouth.
There is a Boston-based futsal team under this name, established in 2005 with an Instagram account. But that shouldn’t be an issue.
Auckland Volcanoes
The city does have an abundance of volcanoes (53 by last count), more common than black knights at least. Was originally considered by the Warriors organisation, along with Lions and Bombers.
Auckland Basilisk
Leaning heavily into a local rivalry - according to Harry Potter lore, phoenix tears are the only known antidote to basilisk venom. Basilisk and Phoenix: two natural enemies.
Auckland Jafas
Just another football association. Along with a Dutch orange strip, this would be a real winner.
Auckland Roadcones
Still keeps the orange as an option.
Auckland Orcas
Facebook groups in the city go nuts when someone announces an orca spotting. Based on that, Aucklanders love orcas.
Auckland Tūī
The same goes for tūī in terms of high approval rating. They are fast and look great, opening up the option for a white tuft under the neck on the jersey.
Option 3 - Alliteration
Auckland Advance
Trying to get inspiration from the official coat of arms of Auckland City wasn’t easy. Ignoring the fact it features pineapples and bananas, which aren’t easy to grow in Auckland, the only word that features across the bottom is “Advance”. Would be bold to use a keyword from the Australian national anthem but I like it.
Auckland Athletic
Auckland A’s for short. Moneyball during a cost-of-living crisis would be a nice touch.
Auckland Aviators
Maybe my house is under a flight path but seems the city has an abundance of planes.
Auckland Axels
I only suggest it so I can make an Axel Foley gag, which no doubt goes over the head of any reader under the age of 35.
Auckland Avengers
Trademark and Marvel approval pending.
Auckland Admirals
City of sails... admirals. There’s a connection there. Also a shade of blue...
Option 4 - Blue is the colour
Auckland Blue Boots
Suggested by a talkback listener on Newstalk ZB. Like the Black Caps and Red Sox, it makes a fashion statement. The downside is the players won’t be able to wear the classic Adidas Copa Mundials.
Auckland City Royals
Not about the monarchy but about a royal blue colour scheme.
Auckland Azure
Ticks both alliteration and a shade of blue. Would need to lean on more Italian signings.
Outside of the Auckland Football Club/Tamaki Makarau FC/AFC Auckland options they're all pretty meh or just bad.
Yeah is some interesting names on that list. M Boxall is now ruled out. Same I'd definitely say old Declan proteges chums Boyd & Thomas. Roy would drag along a bit chunk of Auckland's Fijian Indian community from Papatoetoe to Penrose.
Chinese national team player Tyias Browning is an interesting idea. But I imagine even Foley would baulk at trying to match CSL wages for visa defender.TonyHibbert
Interesting ideas. It’s true a really big name from the EPL will really spark some proper interest. Vardy is probably a dream though.
New Zealanders abroad
Marco Rojas
Roy Krishna
Tyler Boyd
Also on the list: Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Michael Woud (Ventforet Kofu).
A-League players
Oli Sail
Brian Kaltak
Sam Sutton
Also on the list: Ulises Davila (Macarthur FC), Clayton Lewis (Macarthur FC), Storm Roux (Central Coast Mariners).
International marquees
Jamie Vardy Kieffer Moore
Tyias Browning
Recruitment should come from a sporting perspective, not a marketing one. But why not have both? Tyias Browning, or Jiang Guangtai as he is known in China, fits that bill. Auckland’s Chinese football community turned out at Mt Smart in big numbers when the national team played the All Whites in a friendly in March – it’d be a huge missed opportunity if the new Auckland franchise didn’t look at ways to bring this potential fan base on board.
Browning has become a regular with the Chinese national team since switching nationality from England. The 29-year-old defender was born in Liverpool and came up through the Everton academy, making seven senior team appearances for the Toffees before signing with Guangzhou in 2019.
Also on the list: Radamel Falcao (Rayo Vallecano), Adam Lallana (Brighton), Wu Lei (Shanghai Port).
Local talent
Jack-Henry Sinclair
Joe Lee
Francis de Vries
Also on the list: Cameron Howieson (Auckland City), Ben Mata (Wellington Olympic), Luis Toomey (Eastern Suburbs).
Also has SFA to do with NZ…he definitely makes it easier as a Nix fan to dislike the Auckland team!
Knows how the league operates and the Aussie landscape. Greenacre will have to provide the NZ knowledge. It looks a very safe appointment.
More likelihood now I'd imagine that the Auckland team will sign a few Aussies, either NPL or ALM free agents. Fair enough, as without an Academy they otherwise have the small pool of available Kiwis overseas, or the NZ domestic scene.
Plus McFlynn has some good experience with other A League club academies, and that will likely be a big part of his new job setting up Auckland's Academy from scratch.
Would hope that both of them get a short term deal in jan for someone who needs them. Or even a little stint in Bournemouth or France as part of the group - why not
Good interview with Piney just now. McFlynn came across well, good responses, and alluding to the fact that there needs to be a strong Kiwi core at the club. It will be interesting to see how he puts a football club together in under a year, but ultimately he wasn't giving anything away at this early stage.
Big take from that - 2-3 weeks & hopefully before Christmas there will be the announcement of a head coach.
Interesting & fair observation, given it's often seen over the years that NZF have given the Nix squat support (setup of the ALW team an obvious exception).
But Dome & the 'heavy lifting NZ football' Welnix must be a bit miffed, how much it seems Pragnell is pandering to Foley & the new club.
Genuine question here. How many Wellington Phoenix staffing appointments have New Zealand Football covered on their own website? https://t.co/dIuk7xCXSN
Sutton has a contract until the end of the 24/25 season.
That mean much though? If Sutton barely plays for the Nix this season, and the billionaire owner offers the millionaire owners very favourable loan deal terms, I'm sure Welnix would consider heavily letting Sutton go up to his hometown. Or just the old ALM favourite 'contract termination by mutual agreement'
Though as above there seems a few other currently available Kiwi LB options (Deklan Wynne, Francis De Vries, Adam Supyk etc)
Interesting & fair observation, given it's often seen over the years that NZF have given the Nix squat support (setup of the ALW team an obvious exception).
But Dome & the 'heavy lifting NZ football' Welnix must be a bit miffed, how much it seems Pragnell is pandering to Foley & the new club.
Genuine question here. How many Wellington Phoenix staffing appointments have New Zealand Football covered on their own website? https://t.co/dIuk7xCXSN
There's no way Payne and Sail aren't there within a couple years (as much as I want Payne to retire in Welly)
I don't think it's impossible that Sail ends up as a foundation player. Hometown pull; probably has good rapport with Greenacre; Cook keeping him on the bench; arguably dropped from first to fourth All Whites keeper in a few months with eighteen months from start of 24/25 until World Cup to get back; Glory probably happy to invest his salary elsewhere than a sub keeper. Compromise made, and good old mutual termination to come to Auckland.
Corica would be a better shout than Greenacre I think. More experience at a top club, used to dealing with the type of marquee player Auckland wants. Makes so much sense.coochiee
Cool. Exciting. I hope they just go with FC Auckland or Auckland FC, and then run a public competition to choose a moniker.
I think Riccardo Ball said on SENZ this morning that Auckland City have copyrighted Auckland FC already (for some reason)
The actual screenshot of "Auckland FC" as registered to Ivan Vuksich and someone else involved in ACFC is somewhere on this forum, posted earlier this year
Cool. Exciting. I hope they just go with FC Auckland or Auckland FC, and then run a public competition to choose a moniker.
I think Riccardo Ball said on SENZ this morning that Auckland City have copyrighted Auckland FC already (for some reason)
The actual screenshot of "Auckland FC" as registered to Ivan Vuksich and someone else involved in ACFC is somewhere on this forum, posted earlier this year
Yes Vuksich and a properly developer mate had dreams of being involved with a new Auckland franchise. I think even when that Breakers part owner or the Mowbrays were potential owners, Ivan was still promoting himself as a potential local football expert to be involved.
Like everyone else a bit blindsided by an American billionaire. Though I’m sure Foley will gets a few from the local club scene on the payroll
This is what the A-Leagues' newest club means to a legend of the local football scene 🇳🇿
NSL star Harry Ngata believes lessons learned from the NRL & previous football ventures in Auckland have New Zealand's largest city primed for A-Leagues success in 2024 and beyond. pic.twitter.com/x1PktP3qdy
